Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 26

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat led the state in offering tributes to Kargil martyrs as the nation observed Vijay Diwas on Thursday.Laying a floral wreath at the Kargil martyrs memorial at Gandhi Park in Dehradun, the Chief Minister reminded the people of the sacrifices made by Army men in the line of duty. Saluting the sacrifices of the brave soldiers, the Chief Minister said whenever required, the jawans of the country had sacrificed everything to defend their motherland.He said while the Kargil War would always be remembered for the bravery of the Indian Army, it will also be known for then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s immense political will to defend each and every inch of the land of the country.Referring to the measures taken by the state government for soldiers and ex-servicemen and families of the martyred soldiers, the Chief Minister disclosed that Additional District Magistrates in every district had been appointed as nodal officers to address the concerns of soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families. “The soldiers, who come on leave, have many pending works to do and the administrative officers have been instructed to address their issues at the earliest,” he said.The Chief Minister on the occasion also honoured gallantry award winning soldiers and officers and family members of martyrs.Mussoorie BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi asserted that the Chief Minister, who himself belongs to a family of ex-servicemen, was especially sensitive towards soldiers. He said the state government had allotted land and amount to the tune of Rs 2.50 crore for war memorial and boys and girls hostel at Danda Lakhuand on Sahastradhara road in Dehradun. Further, bravery walls had been erected in colleges and universities so that the youth got inspiration from the sacrifices of soldiers.Uttarakhand Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, senior BJP MLA Harbans Kapoor and a large number of ex-servicemen were present on the occasion.